Cute family pics
8 tips for the perfect family photos!
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Fashion
Corrine Stokoe
Last updated: October 10, 2022
It’s that time of year where the weather is perfect for families to get together and take some new photos! If you’re scratching your head going, “How do they do this?” or if you feel like taking family photos is kind of like surviving being thrown into a pit of unrestrained wild animals while being asked to dress nice and stand still, you’re not alone!!
In fact, that’s a little how I’ve felt almost every year. I usually walk away thinking, “did we get even ONE? I hope we got at least one.” And then there are too many to choose from after that I love!
Today I’m going to give you my best tips for getting beautiful family photos of your people you love most.
- Get out
- Keep the photos short and sweet
- No hangry people during family photos
- Treat.
Yo. Self.
- Dress it up for family photos
- Get neutral
- Family photos = golden hour
- Invest in the best
- Stop trying so hard!
- Family photo outfit inspo
- FAMILY PHOTO OUTFIT IDEAS
- Outfit #1
- Outfit #2
- Outfit #3
- Outfit #4
- Outfit #5
Get out
The great outdoors makes the greatest backdrop for photos. I totally prefer outdoor photos a million times over indoor photos. Not only do you get the benefit of all that gorgeous natural light, but natural smiles and way happier, relaxed littles. There is so much to be said about little ones getting to run around and be themselves and it totally shows in the pictures!
Keep the photos short and sweet
Some of my favorite family pictures are the ones that we literally had 10 minutes to get all the photos done. Everyone was much more relaxed and happy, and nobody got sick of smiling or posing or was grumpy.
No hangry people during family photos
If you have littles, make sure they are rested, fed, and happy.
Toddlers especially do best right after a nap! So whatever you have to do to, making sure your day is structured around their naps is a great idea.
We also gave our babies a bottle or breastfed right before if we could, so they had a full belly and were happy as a bird with a french fry. Big kids MUST have snacks or a good meal right before. One year, Harry wanted a feed right in the middle of the shoot so I just went ahead and fed him right there on the beach.
Do whatever you need to do. Bring snacks TO the shoot. Have kids wear pajamas in the car and eat a snack on the way (we did this one year!) so outfits stay nice and clean and not super wrinkly. Husbands should also be well-rested and fed.
Treat. Yo. Self.
This is the one time of year that I absolutely insist that you do whatever you can afford to make yourself feel beautiful. That means working with whatever budget you have, whether that’s getting your nails done or carving time out to do them yourself the night before, getting a spray tan or using a self tanner (find my favorite self tanners here!), and above all, making sure YOU have an hour built into your schedule to get ready and not feel flustered.
Do whatever you can to make yourself feel confident and beautiful, this is the one time each year you really should!!
Dress it up for family photos
Overdressed always trumps underdressed. ALWAYS. Pictures just turn out so much nicer when everyone’s dressed up, and you’ll not only have a gorgeous snapshot of your people for a holiday card, but one you’ll probably want to frame and hang up in your house!
Get neutral
Neutrals display well in any room and if you’re planning to display these photos, this is important. Plus, neutrals keep the focus on your people and that’s what it’s really all about, right? Also, in my opinion, color coordinated > matchy-matchy.
Even the year when I went with a little more color, I tried to just go off a color palette that wouldn’t be too loud or too specific and could really go in any room in our home. Remember that these will be like artwork in your home, so if you wouldn’t decorate with those colors, probably don’t wear them in your pics!
Family photos = golden hour
The best time of day to take photos is either the first or last hour of daylight.
We usually take beach photos during the very last hour of daylight and it turns out really great! I like to give our littles long afternoon naps to make sure they aren’t cranky or tired, and everyone eats right before we leave, too, because there’s nothing worse than hangry kids!!
Invest in the best
Spend what you can to get the best photographer possible! You’re investing money in memories of your family so make sure you’re getting some pictures that you’re really in love with. Research your photographer (social media, like insta stories, are very telling!) and make sure your personalities vibe.
You want somebody that’s funny and happy and personable, because they’ll bring out the very best in your family! Look at other family sessions they’ve done and make sure they look like what you’re hoping to get. The most important thing is to make sure that you LOVE the photos they’ve taken for other people.
One year we tried out Lizzyography because she has the reputation to be an absolute miracle worker with children and husbands and just getting the most beautiful candid photos of families and MAN did she live up to that reputation!!! She has a gift for working with families and kids and I’m so glad we invested in her.
We used her again and even after I said to Neil, “I’m not sure if we got one good picture” because I was feeling so frazzled with 4 kids and a nursing baby and a toddler we had to chase on the beach and it was dinner time and I did my makeup in the car this year and on and on…Sure enough, all the pictures were beautiful. Hire a professional.
Stop trying so hard!
Your kids might not always look at the camera, a hair or two or twelve might be out of place, and your husband might show up wearing the wrong belt, but none of that matters. Happiness is better than perfection. And actually I’m pretty sure happiness is perfection with family photos! Candid is better than posed.
If you’re happy and feeling confident, THAT is what is going to shine through in your pictures. And when your friends and family and loved ones rip open that envelope and hang you on their fridge, that’s all they want to see anyway.
Neil’s Top sold out, similarNeil’s Shorts sold out, similar
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Family photo outfit inspo
I know one of THE HARDEST parts of family pictures is getting everyone in cute coordinated outfits so we did all the work for you and put together SEVERAL options of color-coordinated outfits that you can click and add to cart right away to take some of the stress off your shoulders.
Here’s a list of clothing I think are always great options for family photos:
- Dresses with a waist
- Long sleeved tops
- Fitted pants (not baggy!)
- Overalls for kids
- Sweaters or button-downs for men
- Jackets for men
- Dresses for girls
- Trousers and suspenders for boys
- Skirt with tucked sweater for women
- Belted sweater with skinny jeans for women
FAMILY PHOTO OUTFIT IDEAS
Outfit #1
Outfit #2
Outfit #3
Outfit #4
Outfit #5
Corrine Stokoe
Corrine Stokoe is a blogger, podcaster and content creator behind the brand Mint Arrow. She and her husband Neil live in South Orange County with their 3 little girls and baby boy, she runs her blog and business with 7 team members, where they find the best daily deals and share favorite finds in fashion and beauty. They also run a podcast called Mint Arrow Messages. Mint Arrow has been featured in Forbes, Women's Wear Daily, Business Insider, The Wall Street Journal, AdWeek and Allure.
Corrine is passionate about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ as often as she can and teaching others to use social media for good.
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Search for11 Tips to Choose the Perfect Family Photo Outfits for 2020
Deciding what family photo outfits to wear can be just as challenging as finding the perfect photographer. These are photos you are going to hang on your walls and cherish for years to come. It can seem overwhelming when considering what to wear but it doesn’t need to be.
Whether you are looking for fall family photo outfits or beach family picture outfits use these tips to help you pick out the perfect outfits for you and your family’s group photos.
Read more: 8 Lifestyle Photography Tips for Beautiful Family Photos
Above beach photo credit: Studio Sea Photography
Table of Contents
- How to Choose Family Photo Outfits for Any Season
- Fall Family Picture Outfits
- Family Beach Picture Outfits
- FAQ of Family Photo Outfits
How to Choose Family Photo Outfits
Coordinating colors not matching
Long gone are the days of everyone wearing a white shirt and matching.
You don’t have to have everyone buy a white shirt and jeans. Allow personalities to shine with colors and patterns. Pick a couple of colors and choose clothes that will fit in this color scheme.
Look at your home decor
This may seem odd. What does your home decor have to do with family picture outfits? A lot actually.
Do you like bright colors? Neutrals? Since you will be hanging these photos in your house you want to make sure the colors of your clothes go with the color scheme of your home.
Walk around your home and think about where will you display these photos? If they are going in the living room look at the colors in there. Do you have bright decorative pillows or more of a neutral palette?
Don’t forget accessories to go with your family picture outfits
Accessories not only add to your outfit but they can be fun to use in photos. Have the man wear a tie for the woman to hold. Necklaces for the kids to play with or hats to hide behind.
Remember the idea is not to create these perfect photos.
Family photos are a time to capture who your family is at that time. Most people take family photos in the fall which means there are plenty of accessories you can add. Consider a fun scarf, cute coat, or stylish hat. The possibilities are endless.
Limit patterns
Personally, I enjoy having an outfit in the mix that has all the colors in it. However, not everyone in the photo should wear patterns as it may distract the final image.
Consider picking one outfit for your family photos that has a lot of colors or fun pattern. Choose that outfit first. This gives you plenty of colors to choose from to pick your coordinating colors.
Look for clothing collections
When shopping for clothes for my kids, I head to stores that typically have color coordinating collections. You can then purchase clothes for all the children from one store.
In fact, just recently my sister and I had to pick beach family photo outfits for our family of 15. We headed to Target and within 30 minutes found coordinating clothes for everyone.
Don’t be afraid to lay all the clothes on the floor of the store to see what they will look like together.
You can see below we started with the kids clothes and then moved on to the adult outfits.
Photo credit: Studio Sea Photography
Plan ahead for your family photo outfits
Once you book your session, start thinking what to wear for family photos right away. You may think certain clothes will fit your kids or that one dress is clean. If you wait until the day of or day before you may run into an issue of clothes not fitting, being dirty or need to be dry cleaned.
Photo credit the Aspen Burke Photography
Say no to characters
Yes, your little one may love their Toy Story shirt but you may want to skip it for the family photo session. Just like patterns, characters on shirts can be pretty distracting. Characters, like too many patterns, can make your photo look too busy.
Photo credit: Eloise Layla Nurse Photography
Avoid all white or all black clothing
As we mentioned earlier you would rather do coordinating colors than all white.
Another reason to avoid white is because it is very easy to blow out parts of your shirt causing it to lose its detail. What I mean by blowing out is the shirt no longer has any of the details it is completely white as if the sun is shining brightly on it.
Same can be said with all black, it’s easy to have clipping on black clothing and the detail is lost. With clipping, this is where the black clothes loose the depth and details. Trust me you don’t want this and neither does your photographer.
Textures are your friend
I am a huge fan of a cotton fitted shirt. However, in photographs I like to add textures like scarves or belts to add a little more to the image. Don’t shy away from different textures.
By adding different textures through the material of your family outfits or your accessories you are adding depth and interest to your photos.
Consider your background
If you are taking photos in front of a backdrop, consider what you are wearing. I remember an image of my husband, myself and baby daughter which was taken in front of a black backdrop.
We didn’t realize the background color and showed up wearing black shirts. Once we received the photos it looked as if floating heads were holding a baby.
Think classic for what to wear in family photos
These photos will be hanging on your walls and treasured for years to come. By choosing simple, classic clothes you will help give your images a timeless feel.
Fall Family Picture Outfits
The most popular time of year to get family photos is during the fall. The leaves are changing and the sun is softer. Plus, you need a new family photo for your holiday cards. Something to consider when choosing fall family picture outfits is the tones of the season.
Consider choosing outfits with warm earth tones.
Photo credit: Eloise Layla Nurse Photography
Family Beach Picture Outfits
Another popular time to get family photos done is while on vacation, especially at the beach. Again, you may feel the need to wear matching family outfits like all white shirts but that isn’t ideal.
Instead, while at the beach consider wearing cooler tones like blues & greens and even adding in pops of coral.
Photo credit: Studio Sea Photography
Deciding what to wear is half the battle. Now the posing fun begins. Learn simple family poses to help your session be a success.
Frequently asked questions about family photo outfits.
What colors are best for family photos?
Although there’s no magic answer to this question, it’s best to consider a few different things. What colors do you look best in? What makes you feel confident? Those are the colors you should wear. Also, what are you going to do with the photos? Will you be hanging them in your living room? What are the colors in there? Consider coordinating with your home decor so it all works well together.
Where can I buy clothes for family pictures?
Any clothing store will have something for your family photos.
However, I like to look at stores with clothing collections for the whole family. I would start with your favorite clothing store and see if you can find something for your whole family. I have purchased whole family outfits for Target all the way to Boden and have been happy with both choices.
What colors look best in photos?
That’s a hard one to decide but I will say all black and all white are hard to photograph so if possible I would avoid those.
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1.
Oh, what was it they gave me to hold? My dolls are much lighter and they don't scream all day long. 2. The situation when mother likes this fabric very much and she is ready to sew anything from it. Yeah... You guys are out of luck.
3. Finally, the family got out on vacation! That's just our eldest flatly refuses to undress and sunbathes like that.
4. And what about these girls' faces? Nothing special, they were just told not to blink during the shooting.
5. I wish there was a picture of both children together in the family album. The eldest daughter was against this and agreed to act only in this way.
6. When you really want your wish to come true! This picture was taken 30 years ago. Some things don't change for centuries.
7. How is this possible? I was sailing on a boat with a rod for 3 hours to catch at least someone, and my brother caught this fish from the shore with his bare hands!
8.
And don't think like that! It's just the kids dressed up for Halloween: the boy became a knight, and the girl became a princess. Both children are on horseback. 9. And who said that little sisters are fun and wonderful? For some reason I don't feel like it at all!
10. When my sisters take pictures and they don't take me with them. Now I'll show them!
11. And what are we doing here? They dressed us up in these strange costumes, put us among bottles and bags of money. Who can explain?
12. For this little girl, photography is not a fun process, but rather an unusual one. And why is she so surprised?
13. And only now you realize that having a sister is not very good. Now you are not the only child in the family, which means that not all sweets are now yours!
14. When a pet dies, it is always a tragedy. Someone arranges a funeral.
This picture is from the funeral of the fish. 15. These are the Christmas pictures that were in fashion 40 years ago. Why bully kids like that?
16. This photo of a mother with teenage children was taken on one of the excursions while on vacation. Judging by the faces, the children did not imagine the rest so-so.
17. Come on, let's take a group photo of the kids and their dogs. Oops ... But why did the last ones dislike this idea so much?
18. Look at those poor eyes! Just looking at this frame, you understand what it means to have an older brother and sister.
19. Mom told me to get ready for the photo shoot, and this is what came out of it. Siblings and so different!
20. You can tell by their faces that they are in true love. And what made these lovely children so upset, and even on Christmas?
21.
This is the card I got for Christmas. It seems that this kid showed his character, but the rest do not really like it. 22. Not all children like to be photographed. And if they are forced, they can do dirty tricks, for example, bite.
23. When the photographer told me to look lovingly at my older sister. Not everyone is given to be a model from birth.
24. Mom told her younger sister to put on an elegant dress, because she must go to be photographed. The seniors did their best!
25. Don't think anything bad. This is just a team of wrestlers, not a sweet couple at 12 years old.
26. The picture is similar to the one taken in erotic photo shoots. In fact, this is brother and sister after a swim in the pool. It was reckless to crop the photo!
27. Some initially look like they are suitable for some very gloomy shots.
